peridotite Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a dark coarse-grained igneous rock consisting principally of olivine

WordNet


Per"i*do*tite noun
Etymology
Cf. F. péridotite.
Definitions
  1. (Min.) An eruptive rock characterized by the presence of chrysolite (peridot). It also usually contains pyroxene, enstatite, chromite, etc. It is often altered to serpentine. ✍ The chief diamond deposits in South Africa occur in a more or less altered peridotite.

Webster 1913